Magnetostatics of room temperature compensated Co/Gd/Co/Gd-based synthetic ferrimagnets

Flexibility for interface engineering and access to all-optical switching of the magnetization make synthetic ferrimagnets an interesting candidate for advanced optospintronic devices. Moreover, due to their layered structure and disordered interfaces, they also bear promise for the emerging field of graded magnetic materials. The fastest and most efficient spin–orbit torque driven manipulation of the magnetic order in this material system generally takes place at compensation. Here, we present a systematic experimental and modeling study of the conditions for magnetization compensation and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the synthetic ferrimagnetic Co/Gd/Co/Gd system. A model based on partial intermixing at the Co/Gd interfaces of this system has been developed which explains the experiments well and provides a tool to understand its magnetic characteristics. More specifically, this work provides further insight into the decay of the Co proximity-induced magnetization in the Gd, and the role the capping layer plays in the Gd magnetization.